Man sentenced for sex with Shetland pony

Observer Reporter

A man has been sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to a miniature Shetland pony and criminal damage.

Grahame Coombe, 47, of Pevensey Bay, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by committing sexual acts on the pony at a stables at Hooe on Sunday 10 February this year and four counts of criminal damage by breaking into the stables on 15 December and 23 December 2012 and on 3 January and 10 February this year.

He appeared at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on Monday (18 November).

Coombe was given 26 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 24-weeks, a 12-month supervision order, ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work within the next 12 months, to pay £317.24 compensation, fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.

After the case, Detective Constable Nicholas O’Shaughnessy said: “Offences of this nature are extremely rare. I would like to reassure the public that any such activity will be positively and robustly dealt with.”